“Olive.” Jake stepped toward her, only to be met with a wall of heat.
“Get out!” she hissed. She was drowning in heat and flame. She tried to stop it, to rein the fire back in, but it was too much.
“Olivia.” Theo’s voice broke through her rage.
“Don’t,” she gasped as the flames from her hands began to coil up her arms and the first traces of panic began to claw at her. Never before had she conjured so much raw power, it was beyond anything she’d ever experience, and all of a sudden, she doubted she had the strength to control it or rein it back in.
“Olivia, look at me.” His voice came again, firm and reassuring.
“I can’t.” She tried to look at him, but her vision was misted by a thin film of red and gold. “I can’t control it right now.”
“Yes, you can.” He took a step toward her.
She could feel the fire burning through her body, consuming her. If she let go, she would become a creature of flame and ash. She wanted it, wanted to let go and become the fire.
“Olivia.” This time there was a note of calm command in Theo’s voice, almost as if he could sense her slipping away. “Look at me.”
He reached for her.
“THEO!” Jake snapped.
“It’s okay, Jake,” he replied. “She won’t hurt me.”
“You don’t know that.” Jake stumbled back, feeling the wall of heat in front of him.
“I do know,” Theo answered.
“Don’t.” Her voice sounded deeper, unlike her own. “I don’t want to hurt you.”
“You won’t.” He stepped closer.
Fear flooded her veins, cold and icy, in direct contrast to the fire burning through her veins. If he touched her, he would burn, consumed by her magic.
She couldn’t see it herself, but she was magnificent; a siren’s call, Theo thought, and he was helpless to resist. She was a creature of pure gold and light and heat. He couldn’t say how he knew her magic wouldn’t harm him, he only knew it, right down to his very bones.
Theo held out his hand with not so much as a tremor. Even through the turbulent whip of her power engulfing her senses she could see him reach for her but stop short of touching her. Instead he seemed to be waiting.
Raising her hand slowly she held it parallel to his, almost palm to palm but not yet touching. Tiny microbursts of magic crackled along her skin, but Theo didn’t flinch, he simply waited, his eyes large and dark against his skin.
Unable to stop herself she closed the gap and pressed her hand to his. She gasped at the shock of electricity that jolted up her arm.
Theo sucked in a sharp breath, his eyes widening as their skin met, clearly he’d felt it too. Her magic flames wound around their joined hands as their fingers entwined, and then down their arms, binding them to each other.
It was like the whole world disappeared around them. All Olivia could see was Theo as light and magic swirled around them, cocooning them. They leaned in, each naturally gravitating to the other, as if pulled by invisible threads.
Theo lifted his other hand, sliding it along her jaw as she lifted her face to him. His head dropped, his lips hovering so close to hers, and gaze fixed on hers.
How was this possible?
Her gaze dropped to their entwined hands. How was he able to withstand her magic. Not only withstand it but revel in it. There was a connection between them, one she couldn’t even begin to pick apart but she felt it, right down to her bones.
Without stopping to think she rose up on her toes and pressed her mouth to his, feeling his sharp intake of breath. His lips were soft, the taste of him addictive. Their hands parted and even as he continued to cup her face with one hand, the other snaked around her waist, drawing her in.
His big, hard body pressed against her felt so right, and her magic weaved around them, circling them like a comet. The torrent of anger and frustration she’d felt drained away to be replaced with heat and desire, and something else she couldn’t name.
Her hands slide into the silky locks of his dark hair, gripping as she opened her mouth and the kiss caught light. The ground beneath their feet began shaking violently, jolting them both from the hazy web of seduction they’d found themselves caught in.
They both stumbled back as the heaving ground stilled. Olivia’s magic banked, the brightly colored flames dissipating rapidly. The connection between them snapped, leaving them both stood staring at each other, wide-eyed and breathing hard.
